By Ashley Topham
If you’re boo’d up this spooky season, get ready to soak up all of those cozy, pumpkin spice vibes with my curated fall itinerary around Gwinnett! From savoring seasonal flavors to exploring leaf season’s premier outdoor activities, this itinerary has those Over the Garden Wall vibes we all know and love.
Start the day by heading over to Maple Street Biscuit Company for a delicious brunch. My favorite dish to order from here is The Farmer, a chicken biscuit sandwich filled with crispy bacon, gooey cheddar cheese and smothered with apple butter! It’s truly the perfect biscuit sandwich combination to enjoy on a brisk morning. Don’t forget to add a side of smashbrowns to complete your spread! After brunch, walk across Downtown Duluth to grab a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee (because it can’t be a fall date without a PSL). They also offer a special Spooky Latte once it’s closer to Halloween that features adorable marshmallow fluff ghosts and a Bloody Matcha! You and your boo can take your lattes to-go and walk across the street to the historic Duluth Church Cemetery. It’s the perfect spot for a mid-morning stroll with your ghoulfriend.
Once you’ve had time to admire the various headstones, grab your fang-tastic partner for a drive over to the Buford Corn Maze. This beloved family-owned attraction has it all from a pumpkin patch and corn maze to hayrides and a Haunted Forest! Pick out some pumpkins from the patch to carve into jack-o’-lanterns and some mini ones to decorate your home after enjoying all of the attractions. Once the witches broom hits the sky, it’s time to grab a spook-tastic dinner at Rreal Tacos in Lawrenceville or Sugar Hill! During this time of year, this trendy Mexican spot is transformed into a Halloween pop-up bar complete with incredible decor and a hauntingly-delicious menu. You can’t go wrong with the Halloween Birria Chicken tacos with a side of consomé (the blue corn taco shells had an eerie color).
Don’t let the date night vibes end with dinner, head home to pop in your comfort fall movie (mine is Saw, don’t judge) and spend the rest of your night carving pumpkins with a caramel apple cider mimosa in hand!